Save the Day with Monster Spray!
March 30, 2009 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
Filed under Parenting
We were among the millions who cued up at the theater to see Monsters vs. Aliens this weekend, helping it win the No. 1 spot at the box office this weekend. This is only the third movie Truman’s actually sat through so we were thrilled not to have paid $40 (if you count popcorn and sodas) only to walk out of the theater. The previews made him laugh and, as we suspected, so did the movie. His favorite character was BOB.
Truman has had a slight curiosity about monsters even before the movie. He wants to know where monsters live. (He suggested Brazil, which is also what he says is his favorite country.) He wonders if they are hiding in the bathroom or in the dark corners of his room. He sleeps with his bathroom light on.
My husband tries to rationalize with him. He tells Truman that monsters aren’t real and he has nothing to be afraid of. Since I am far more irrational in my fear, I found another angle to help him conquer his monster worries – Go Away Monster Spray. No freaking kidding! Seaside Naturals, Inc., a company that markets all natural cleaning and personal care products, sells an all natural aromatherapy calming spray cleverly labeled and named to help soothe away your child’s monster woes and phobias of the dark while filling your home with a light essence. For more information, on Seaside Naturals Go Away Monster Spray (4 ounces, $5.69), visit Seaside Naturals Web Site. With any luck, we’ll soon be able to turn off Truman’s bathroom light!
We used two methods during the “monster stage.” We found a purple spray bottle at the dollar store, and I filled it with water and put in a few mint leaves. Since she could smell the mint, she felt the monster spray was being effective. We sprayed under the bed and into the closet a bit, the left the bottle at her bedside, in case a monster should try to sneak in during the night.
We also had “monster glasses.” A friend gave us a pair of ornamental brass spectacles with kaleidoscope lenses. Wearing these allows a specially-trained parent to put on the glasses and check the room for monsters. If the child is very very good, they can also be trained to use the glasses themselves. If no monsters can be seen with the glasses, the room is safe.
I did a quick web search, but didn’t find anything similar to show you how they looked. Try some 3-D glasses, maybe. Or find an old monocle or steel-rim safety glasses at a yard sale. Something that looks out-of-the-ordinary. Or even something like this “Bee Eye”:
http://thewoodenwagon.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=GM830
These two methods – prevention and defense with the Monster Spray, and detection through the Monster Glasses – got us through.
Clever! I’m so going to look for those funky glasses. Sounds like a good way to wile away a day Googling. If you track them down, do tell!